Chi gong Exercise

As more and more people become interested in the art of self-healing, chi gong has been propelled to higher grounds after years of working silently for centuries.

Chi gong (pronounced "qi gong" or "chi kung") is an ancient Chinese practice or exercise that goes back to almost 3,000 years.

Chi gong is basically a holistic practice for promoting longevity by focusing on the three key areas: strengthening the human body, concentrating the mind, and promoting the human spirit. It is a practice that combines the physical, mental, and spiritual components through different forms of exercises to provide a number of benefits.

The word chi stands for vitality, energy, life force, while gong means practice, cultivate, refine. Thus chi gong = to cultivate and refine through practice one's vitality or life force. All the aspects of movement in our bodies - our breath, heartbeat, muscular movements, mental activity, the processes of the organs and glands - can be attributed to this energetic force that sustains us.

Chi gong, simply stated, is the cultivation of chi or vital life energy. Chi gong seeks to stimulate the flow of chi along the invisible channels, or meridians, that are thought to course throughout the body.

In a more modern and scientific language, chi gong is the practice of activating, refining and circulating the human bioelectrical field. Because the bioelectrical field maintains and supports the function of the organs and tissues, chi gong can have a profound effect on health. One of the easiest ways to differentiate chi gong exercise from other physical 'gym' type of exercises is that real chi gong works on energy, whereas gentle exercises work on the physical body.

Chi gong, when aligned well, can be a powerful practice that can help in reducing the symptoms associated with illnesses such as asthma, cardiovascular disorders, cancer, diabetes, rheumatism, kidney problems, ulcers, bodily pain and other chronic, degenerative diseases. Some practitioners with many years of chi gong behind them, are convinced that chi gong 'heals' them, and often develop a renewed trust in this ancient art of healing. Click here to read the real life story of how I overcame chronic osteoporosis with chi gong.

Chi gong exercises are generally simple and can be practiced by anyone - both young and old, healthy and sick. Chi gong exercises can also be easily adapted to your physical capabilities. For a start, check out these simple chi gong exercises that can be performed at anytime and at any place; at home or in the office, while walking, standing, sitting in a wheelchair, or even lying down!